《英语流行话题阅读:语境识词4500》96 A Glimpse of US Students' Social Life

　　Unit 96
A Glimpse of US Students' Social Life
Fun and Alcoholic¹
The unstated purpose of most American students' social life is to have "fun". For them, social life entails² going somewhere outside their house or apartment and "doing something", such as drinking in a bar or at a party, participating in some sport or recreational activity (To Americans, the word "drinking" refers to consuming alcoholic beverages³.), having a picnic, going to a concert, or at least taking a walk. "Just staying home" and "visiting" or "playing games" would b the last resort of most Americans who want to socialize. A large amount of socializing among American students takes place in bars. Other common gathering⁴ places are recreation facilities, parks, and places to eat.
Students from other countries generally seem far less interested in drinking, at least in public places. This fact erects⁵ a significant barrier to socializing between American and foreign students, and serves to drive foreign students toward each other for social activities.
Chinese students who want to socialize with Americans but who do not want to drink alcohol can g to bars for conversation (although the noise level can make it difficult to bear others talking and the cigarette smoke can be irritating). They can drink something non-alcoholic or not drink anything. A good strategy is to order a club soda⁶ with a lime twist, which looks like an alcoholic drink, called a gin and tonic⁷, and will give the appearance that you are drinking alcohol. People who are drinking often feel more relaxed talking with other people who they think are also drinking.
Gay Life
"Gay" is a colloquialism⁸ for homosexual, a person whose feelings of sexual attraction are toward members of their own sex. A "lesbian" is a homosexual woman. A "bisexual" is a person who feels attraction toward members of both sexes. On many American campuses gay students are becoming more open and visible. So are gay faculty⁹ and staff members.
Organized Group Activities
Many free or low-cost activities take place on American campuses, and participating in them can lead to conversations with Americans. These include lectures, film showings, readings of literature or poetry, musical performances, and sports. Student organizations form around a wide array of interests, including chess, martial¹⁰ arts, soccer, hiking, biking, folk dancing, various political issues or viewpoints, field-of-study or vocational areas, and many, many others. The web site of the school you will attend probably has a list of student organizations.
Many religious organizations have clubs or activities aimed at students. Some groups of students meet regularly for Bible study. Many Chinese students join a Bible-study group, even if they are not Christians¹¹, because the group gives opportunities for meeting people, improving English, and getting to know Americans in a setting without alcohol and loud noise.

1 alcoholic   

adj.（含）酒精的，由酒精引起的；n.酗酒者

参考例句：

• The alcoholic strength of brandy far exceeds that of wine.白兰地的酒精浓度远远超过葡萄酒。
• Alcoholic drinks act as a poison to a child.酒精饮料对小孩犹如毒药。

2 entails   

使…成为必要( entail的第三人称单数 )； 需要； 限定继承； 使必需

参考例句：

• The job entails a lot of hard work. 这工作需要十分艰苦的努力。
• This job entails a lot of hard work. 这项工作需要十分努力。

3 beverages   

n.饮料( beverage的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• laws governing the sale of alcoholic beverages 控制酒类销售的法规
• regulations governing the sale of alcoholic beverages 含酒精饮料的销售管理条例

4 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

5 erects   

v.使直立，竖起( erect的第三人称单数 )；建立

参考例句：

• You're at present on a different footing-property erects a kind of barrier. 你现在的地位不同了--财产已在你周围建立起一道屏障。 来自互联网
• When oneself small JJ erects, not be too hard, how to do? 自己的小JJ勃起时不是太硬，怎么办？ 来自互联网

6 soda   

n.苏打水；汽水

参考例句：

• She doesn't enjoy drinking chocolate soda.她不喜欢喝巧克力汽水。
• I will freshen your drink with more soda and ice cubes.我给你的饮料重加一些苏打水和冰块。

7 tonic   

n./adj.滋补品，补药，强身的，健体的

参考例句：

• It will be marketed as a tonic for the elderly.这将作为老年人滋补品在市场上销售。
• Sea air is Nature's best tonic for mind and body.海上的空气是大自然赋予的对人们身心的最佳补品。

8 colloquialism   

n.俗话，白话，口语

参考例句：

• The writer aerateed his writing with a persuasive colloquialism.作者用一种有说服力的口语体使他的文章显得生动。
• Her speech is informal and filled with colloquialism.她的演讲是非正式的，很口语化。

9 faculty   

n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员

参考例句：

• He has a great faculty for learning foreign languages.他有学习外语的天赋。
• He has the faculty of saying the right thing at the right time.他有在恰当的时候说恰当的话的才智。

10 martial   

adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的

参考例句：

• The sound of martial music is always inspiring.军乐声总是鼓舞人心的。
• The officer was convicted of desertion at a court martial.这名军官在军事法庭上被判犯了擅离职守罪。

11 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。